I drive every day to work and sometimes I need to quickly answer messages while in traffic. I wanted to know if it's still illegal to use your phone while driving or if the law changed. Is the fine really heavy?
Yes, it's still illegal and the fine is pretty hefty. In Portugal, using your phone in your hand while driving is against the traffic code, and fines range around 120 to 250 euros, depending on whether it's a first offense or repeat violation. Plus, you lose points on your license (I think it's 3 points). The law hasn't changed on this, so if you get caught replying to messages while driving, yes, you can be fined.
The most important thing is to understand that this isn't just a legal issue - it's a safety issue, really. Divided attention at the wheel causes serious accidents, and authorities are cracking down on this more and more because they know the risk. There are alternatives that work well: if you really need to reply to something urgent, pull over somewhere safe, or use a phone holder with a hands-free kit to make calls (that's legal). If you're the type who gets a lot of messages during your drive, it might be worth turning on "Do Not Disturb" while you're driving.
Just curious: are those messages you need to reply to actually urgent, or is it more of a habit? If it's work-related, maybe it's worth talking to your boss about it, because it's not smart to risk a hefty fine (and your safety) over messages that can wait half an hour.
It's not quite like that - the law is really clear and it stays the same in 2026, driving with your phone in your hand is banned and the fine is seriously heavy!
The truth is those quick messages in traffic aren't worth the risk, because it's not just the fine (which costs a lot), but also the penalty points on your license, and in the worst case you could even lose your license.
If you really need to reply to messages, pull over for a couple of minutes or use a hands-free system if your phone and car support it - your life and everyone else's is worth way more than a message!
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